Hair accessory

ABSTRACT

A hair accessory holds hair together in place and may be worn as jewelry. The hair accessory is made of a plurality of receiving cavities placed in a series that have openings at the top and bottom ends for hair to be pulled through. A final receiving cavity is placed as a bottom connection that will be closed at the bottom allowing for the ends of the hair to be collected within the receiving cavity. A clasping mechanism is attached to the top opening of each receiving cavity to hold the hair in place. A plurality of rhinestones is attached to the outside of the receiving cavities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair accessories and, more particularly, to hair accessories that also function as jewelry pieces.

Currently, hair accessories such as beads, barrettes, or bow-bows require the use of a rubber band in order to attach to hair. Using a rubber band on hair pulls and damages the hair, creating split ends and breakage. These items can only be used as hair accessories, so if the product is not used in the hair, it is taking up space.

As can be seen, there is a need for a hair accessory that will hold hair yet not damage the hair, enclose the hair ends, as well as be able to function as a jewelry piece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a hair accessory comprises a receiving cavity formed from a first half hingedly connected to a second half, the first half closing on the second half to form the receiving cavity; an opening formed in a top end of the receiving cavity; a clasping mechanism disposed at least partially in the opening, the clasping mechanism operable to secure the first half to the second half; and a plurality of decorative pieces attached to the outside of the receiving cavities.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair accessory device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the hair accessory device of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the hair accessory device of FIG. 1, in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the hair accessory device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the hair accessory device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a hair accessory device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a hair accessory device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a hair accessory device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of a hair accessory device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hair accessory that holds hair together in place and may be worn as jewelry. The hair accessory is made of a plurality of receiving cavities placed in a series that have openings at the top and bottom ends for hair to be pulled through. A final receiving cavity is placed as a bottom connection that will be closed at the bottom allowing for the ends of the hair to be collected within the receiving cavity. A clasping mechanism is attached to the top opening of each receiving cavity to hold the hair in place. A plurality of rhinestones is attached to the outside of the receiving cavities.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, a hair accessory device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a receiving cavity 24. The receiving cavity 24 can be formed from two halves that are hingedly connected to open to place hair in the receiving cavity 24 and close to encase the hair in the receiving cavity 24. The receiving cavity 24 may have an opening 26 that allows for hair 12 to be placed into the receiving cavity 24 by a user 10. A clasping mechanism can be disposed at the opening 26 of the receiving cavity 24. The clasping mechanism can include a clasp ball 16 and a clasp arm 18. When hair 12 is placed within the receiving cavity 24 and the clasp mechanism 14 is engaged, the receiving cavity 24 is in the closed position and the hair accessory is in use.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, hair may be configured to pass through the hair accessory device, or the ends of the user's hair may be curled and stored in the hair accessory device. In some embodiments, multiple ones of the hair accessory device can be used in series, placed along a portion of hair and an ending one of the hair accessory device can be placed at the end of the portion of hair.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, a hair accessory receiving cavity 24 may be, in alternate embodiments, formed in various shapes, such as a spherical shape 28, an ellipsoid shape 30, a diamond shape 32, a heart shape 34 or a cube shape 36. In each alternate embodiment, a clasping mechanism 14 is used at the opening 26. Also, with each alternate embodiment, there are decorative elements 22 attached to the outside of the receiving cavity 24.

The hair accessory may be made from a single molded or formed piece of polymer, such as plastic. Rhinestones or a similar material may be applied to the outside of the molded or formed piece. The molded or formed piece may be of any multiple shapes such as, but not limited to, a spherical, ellipsoid, diamond, heart, cube, or the like.

To use the hair accessory, a user may simply place strands of hair through the top end and out through the bottom end of each receiving cavity until the last receiving cavity which holds the ends of the hair inside. Using the clasping mechanism on each receiving cavity closes the receiving cavity and locks the hair in place. The present invention allows for the securing of split ends and provides style. Unlike other devices which take time to attach to the hair such as beads with rubber bands, the present invention works well for children as a quick hairstyle before heading out for the day. The present invention may also function as a piece of jewelry such as a necklace, bracelet or ring.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair accessory comprising: a receiving cavity formed from a first half hingedly connected to a second half, the first half closing on the second half to form the receiving cavity; an opening formed in a top end of the receiving cavity; a clasping mechanism disposed at least partially in the opening, the clasping mechanism operable to secure the first half to the second half; and a plurality of decorative pieces attached to the outside of the receiving cavities.
 2. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the receiving cavity is in a spherical shape.
 3. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the receiving cavity is in an ellipsoid shape.
 4. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the receiving cavity is in a diamond shape.
 5. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the receiving cavity is in a heart shape.
 6. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the receiving cavity is in a cube shape.
 7. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein a bottom end the receiving cavity is closed.
 8. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein a bottom end of the receiving cavity has an opening to pass hair through the receiving cavity.
 9. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of decorative pieces are rhinestones.
 10. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the clasping mechanism includes a clasp ball interconnecting with a clasp arm. 